I've still got the Legrand CD in my Shopping Cart, but shortly after you mentioned it I turned my attention to other composers/periods. Now that I am back into op. 9 I plan on ordering it, as well as, a few others I've wanted to purchase as hard copies.

Well, the single reviewer on Amazon.com didn't like it but I still find it to be a very moving performance.

PS actually another reviewer regarded the performance as 'outstanding' and I'd go along with that.

« Last Edit: February 07, 2018, 06:34:37 AM by vandermolen »

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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

I listened to this recording again this morning and depart somewhat from your opinion. While having three versions of this work is fine, sometimes a conductor can get carried away with the added weight of the ensemble, imo. This recording suffers, again imo, from too much timpani and trumpets. At times, during the "Sanctus", I was reminded of the 20th Century Fox movie intro. Also, the movements with the baritone were disappointing, imo, not only because these were the movements in which the timpani were featured but also Mr. Allen was over the top, imo - emphatically rolling his "Rs" and imbuing his solo with altogether too much "drama".

Durufle based this work on Gregorian chant, so much so, that he has been criticized that it is not so much a new composition as an arrangement and harmonized version of the traditional chant for the requiem mass. That being the case, drama and anything remotely approaching bombast are anathema to the effect and flow of the chant. This is the primary reason why I find the organ-only versions to be preferable to either of the two orchestrated ones. I am looking for austerity and a meditative ambiance, which most versions for organ and choir seem to accomplish naturally than those with the added instruments.

However, the sections of this recording that do not feature the timpani and trumpets are done very nicely, but I prefer the other Hyperion recording that I highlighted a few posts earlier.

I know, "to each his own" and I am glad you admire this work, consider it a masterpiece, and enjoy Best's recording. That's the important thing.

To the bolded text, that’s pretty much what it boils down to so no need for me to argue ‘my case’.

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"I love music passionately. And because I love it, I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it.” - Claude Debussy

Stephen Cleobury has been involved in two recordings of the Requiem: first as organist with George Guest leading the St. John's College Choir, Cambridge and then the one released in 2016 that North Star linked. I remember liking the Guest/St. John's recording but in sampling the newer one today I am not impressed. I will listen more closely to both before commenting further.

Regarding the Michel Legrand version, Mirror Image implies that it is available on YouTube. However, I could not find it. Did I miss it? In any event I will be ordering my own copy this week or next. It might seem counter intuitive for someone like Legrand to produce an estimable recording of this work, but stranger things have happened.

Stephen Cleobury has been involved in two recordings of the Requiem: first as organist with George Guest leading the St. John's College Choir, Cambridge and then the one released in 2016 that North Star linked. I remember liking the Guest/St. John's recording but in sampling the newer one today I am not impressed. I will listen more closely to both before commenting further.

Regarding the Michel Legrand version, Mirror Image implies that it is available on YouTube. However, I could not find it. Did I miss it? In any event I will be ordering my own copy this week or next. It might seem counter intuitive for someone like Legrand to produce an estimable recording of this work, but stranger things have happened.

When I got home I checked my shelf since I was pretty sure that I had a different recording of the Requiem led by Stephen Cleobury, and I did: one made in 1989 with the Choir of King's College Cambridge (a bit confusing since the one in which he played organ under George Guest was with the Choir of St. John's Cambridge). This third one couples the Durufle with the Faure Requiem and features Olaf Bar and Ann Murray as soloists, and the English Chamber Orchestra.

So, as far as I can tell Cleobury has the most recordings of the work.

Others I have in my collection to re-visit include:

There are many others available to stream and even some interesting looking live concert videos on YouTube.

I don't know how long I'll last this time around with attempting to listen to as many as I can find, but I am not even close to tiring of the music ... yet.

Regarding the Michel Legrand version, Mirror Image implies that it is available on YouTube. However, I could not find it. Did I miss it? In any event I will be ordering my own copy this week or next. It might seem counter intuitive for someone like Legrand to produce an estimable recording of this work, but stranger things have happened.

I never made such an implication, David. I was just making a generalized comment that I can sample things on YouTube to see whether I would want to buy the recording or not. Whether a recording is on YT, however, is a whole other story altogether.

« Last Edit: February 08, 2018, 06:22:31 AM by Mirror Image »

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"I love music passionately. And because I love it, I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it.” - Claude Debussy

Stephen Cleobury has been involved in two recordings of the Requiem: first as organist with George Guest leading the St. John's College Choir, Cambridge and then the one released in 2016 that North Star linked. I remember liking the Guest/St. John's recording but in sampling the newer one today I am not impressed. I will listen more closely to both before commenting further.

Regarding the Michel Legrand version, Mirror Image implies that it is available on YouTube. However, I could not find it. Did I miss it? In any event I will be ordering my own copy this week or next. It might seem counter intuitive for someone like Legrand to produce an estimable recording of this work, but stranger things have happened.

I was surprised by how much I liked the Legrand recording. I associate him more with music like the score for 'Les Parapluies de Cherbourg'!

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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

I take most reviews with a grain of salt, especially if I can go on YouTube and find the performance to sample it to decide whether I want it or not.

This, especially when some people leave bad reviews because their copy happened to be faulty, or the equipment they used to play it was faulty. Something they can solve themselves without having to damage reputations.

This, especially when some people leave bad reviews because their copy happened to be faulty, or the equipment they used to play it was faulty. Something they can solve themselves without having to damage reputations.

Oh yes, but let’s not forget reviews on Amazon from people leaving negative feedback for the seller from whom the reviewer had bought the item in question from.

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"I love music passionately. And because I love it, I try to free it from barren traditions that stifle it.” - Claude Debussy

This was my first CD of this work, in fact, this was my first CD purchase, period. This is the full orchestra version, and hearing it now after so long of not listening to this version I can see why Durufle said this was his favorite iteration of his Requiem. The strings and winds embrace the music and provide a soft, warm bed for the choir, which sounds beautiful. Corboz's direction is expansive and at the same time a bit muted - both qualities which benefit the music.

The full orchestra makes it easier for the forces to balance, whereas the 1961 arrangement for organ and small ensemble suffers by comparison; usually the timpani and trumpets overpower the overall sound. If I had to rank them, according to my tastes, this is how I would:

Best: Organ-onlyFine: OrchestraLess good: Organ + small ensemble

That said, the main drawback for me with this recording is the soloists. Both whose careers have been in the opera house, their voices are not the best for this music.

This recording will always hold a sentimental position in my heart, though, and I still enjoy listening to it.

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